Do you think you might have lyme?

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If you suspect you have Lyme disease, it’s crucial to seek medical attention early. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications. Here’s what you should do:

• Early symptoms of Lyme disease may include:
  • Erythema migrans (EM) rash: A circular or "bullseye" rash (appears 3–30 days after a tick bite, not everyone gets it).
  • Flu-like symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle/joint aches.

• Later symptoms may include:
  • Joint pain (often in the knees), neurological issues (e.g., facial palsy, tingling), heart palpitations, and migrating pains.
  • Symptoms can vary widely, and some may come and go.

• If you’ve been in tick-prone areas (e.g., wooded or grassy areas) and find a tick on your body, carefully remove it with fine-tipped tweezers.  Refer to "How To Remove Tick" under Resources 

• Diagnosis: Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms, exposure history, and may order tests like ELISA and Western blot to confirm Lyme disease. Keep in mind that blood tests can sometimes be inaccurate due to:

• Timing: Antibodies take 2-4 weeks to develop, so early tests may be negative.
• Regional strain variations: Certain Canadian strains of Borrelia may not be detected by standard tests.
• Test limitations: ELISA tests can give false positives, and Western blot tests may miss early Lyme.

• Treatment: If diagnosed, Lyme disease is typically treated with antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime for 14–21 days. Early treatment is highly effective. 

If you still suspect Lyme disease may be what you have and are interested in doing further/ more accurate blood tests: 

IGENEX https://igenex.com/product/serum-whole-blood-collection-kit/

ArminLabs https://arminlabs.com/en/

• In tick-prone areas:
  • Wear long sleeves and pants.
  • Use insect repellents with DEET or permethrin.
  • Perform tick checks after being outdoors.
  • Shower within 2 hours of returning inside to remove any ticks before they attach.

• If no rash appears or symptoms worsen, follow up with your doctor. Some people experience post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), where symptoms persist after treatment.

Lyme disease can still occur without a tick bite being noticed or the classic rash appearing. Here's what to do:

"I did not see a tick, or the classic bullseye rash on myself" 

• Recognize Early Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, headache, muscle/joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, random pains jumping from one area to another etc. 
• Seek Medical Attention: Even without a visible tick bite or rash, Lyme disease can be diagnosed based on symptoms and exposure history. Blood tests may be used, though they can sometimes return false negatives in early infection.
• Consider Possible Exposure: Ticks are small and hard to detect, especially nymphs. If you’ve been in tick habitats, think about whether a bite may have gone unnoticed.

Early Lyme disease is treated typically with oral antibiotics, while later stages may require intravenous antibiotics for more severe complications (e.g., neurological or cardiac issues).

When I first received my positive Western blot Lyme test, I was relieved to finally have an answer to what was causing my symptoms. However, that relief quickly faded as I realized that the doctors I was working with had no clear plan for my treatment beyond just two weeks of antibiotics.  Not including them changing their mind and saying suddenly after being told that I had Lyme disease... told I didn't.  I began researching, going to Lyme talks, I wanted to learn as much as I could about treatments... my ideal treatment was without any form of western medication -  I had zero luck finding anyone who was treating Lyme disease naturally. 

I started feeling a little worried, because if all I am being given is two weeks of doxycycline,  or told I do not have it, now what?

I met a man named, Dr Erine Murikami. https://murakamicentreforlyme.org  

He was doing a talk on Lyme disease & shared information about a Lyme Literate Doctor out in Plattsburgh NY, Doctor Maureen McShane https://doctor.webmd.com/doctor/maureen-mcshane-1d2832b2-0eef-40b0-9c53-14ad996da663-overview I immediately contacted her to set up a free consultation.  After the consultation I felt a bit defeated.... How  am I going to make this work,  how I am going to be able to afford this, i'm no longer working - at the time her fee was $750 / hour), how will I be able to afford or even have the energy to travel to Plattsburgh NY for my appointments & find a doctor here in Ontario Canada who is willing to work along side her and I in order to administer IV antibiotics if required when every single doctor, specialist that I had, kept telling me it was all in my head, or that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis, regardless of my multiple positive results for Lyme.  There is no way in **** they would assist this.  

I went back to my original desire.. it felt intuitive ... to do this naturally, I didn't want to take IV antibiotics for months on end.  Every single person I had met, were all doing the antibiotic route, their was progress in some, but never once did I hear anyone say they no longer have it or that their symptoms are gone & are feeling better.  It always seemed like symptoms kept getting worse, or something new would arise. This was going on for years.  I couldn't imagine how these families were surviving, how in the world can someone, out of pocket afford 30k +  on medical treatment, and travel, just to feel "somewhat better"  - outside of Canada.   

So I dropped this idea and went with what felt right to me right from the beginning .. Healing from Lyme Naturally, I had no clue on how to do it, but I was determined to figure it out.  Everyone thought I was crazy.  

It is very common that Medical Doctors in Canada, loose their licenses if they treat individuals with Lyme disease outside of the two weeks of antibiotic recommendation. 

If untreated, Lyme can cause chronic joint pain, neurological issues, and heart problems etc. These may appear weeks or months later.

Preventative measures: Use tick repellents, wear protective clothing, check for ticks regularly, and shower after being outdoors.

9. Misdiagnosed

Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed as other conditions because its symptoms can overlap with those of many other illnesses. 

Some of the most common misdiagnoses include:

1. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) – Lyme disease can cause fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and cognitive difficulties, similar to CFS.
2. Fibromyalgia – The widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances associated with Lyme can mimic fibromyalgia.
3. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – Some neurological symptoms of Lyme disease, such as numbness, tingling, or difficulty with coordination, may be mistaken for MS.
4. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) – The joint pain and swelling seen in Lyme disease can resemble rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in the early stages. - This was my diagnosis 
5. Depression or Anxiety – Lyme disease can cause mood swings, cognitive issues, and fatigue, which might be misinterpreted as mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
6. Bell’s Palsy – One of the early signs of Lyme disease can be facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), leading some to initially diagnose it as a standalone neurological condition.
7. Lupus – The symptoms of Lyme disease, such as joint pain and a "butterfly-shaped" rash, can mimic the symptoms of lupus.
8. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) or other viral infections – Because Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms, it may be initially diagnosed as a viral infection.
9. Alzheimer’s or other Dementias – Cognitive dysfunction and memory problems in later-stage Lyme disease can resemble early signs of Alzheimer’s.
10. Autoimmune Disorders – Some of the immune system dysfunctions caused by Lyme disease can be confused with other autoimmune disorders.

This misdiagnosis often occurs because Lyme disease symptoms vary widely and may not appear all at once, making it difficult to recognize without proper testing. The hallmark "bull's-eye" rash associated with Lyme is not always present, which can further complicate diagnosis.

If you suspect Lyme disease, seek prompt medical care. Early treatment is key to preventing more serious complications.